as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (off)
Noun
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The emergence of products like CBD oils, edibles, and low-THC options further diversifies the ways people engage with cannabis, moving away from the stereotypical image of a joint-smoking slacker.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025 -
Charismatic slacker Raj and uptight striver Mir aren’t just foils for each other; their mutual love is unmistakable, which gives weight to the looming prospect that the stress of salvaging Baba’s empire could tear them apart.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The biggest underachievers were Florida State, Appalachian State, Utah and Liberty.—
Chris Vannini,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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The platoon of quarterbacks is preparing to face a Washington Commanders club that is shaking off their reputation as underachievers with their best season since 1991, the year of their last Super Bowl title.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Making the choice to be social is especially difficult at the end of an exhausting day when your impulse may be to veg out on the couch.—
Allie Volpe,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
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Plus: What better way for locals to veg out during a stressful election season than with some grade-A on-screen drama?—
Mimi Montgomery,
Axios,
19 Sep. 2024
Verb
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But this week, USA TODAY kicked back in New York City for a very special occasion: The launch of USA TODAY Studio IX, our new online destination for all things women's sports.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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In season 3, spa manager Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) kicks back with a copy of Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Narcissists.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For lounging at home or casual outings, grab this soft Hanes hoodie that’s marked down to $13 with double discounts.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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In another carousel, the beauty vlogger is seen lounging with a cup of coffee, and in another pic, smiling wearing a pair of shades and a bikini on the sand.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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After the funeral, Benedict was laid to rest in the Vatican Grottoes, in the same tomb that once held Pope John Paul II before his canonization.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
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No pope has been laid to rest at the site since the 17th century, when Pope Clement IX was buried there, per CBS News.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Get our daily newsletter Yet Mr Schwarzman avoids footling with life’s foot-soldiers for a reason.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
19 Sep. 2019
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Last year an American startup called Swarm Technologies paid a footling $900,000 fine for sending four tiny satellites into orbit on an Indian rocket, having been denied permission to do so by the US Federal Communications Commission.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
17 July 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Goof (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28off%29. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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